A newly renovated basketball court in East Los Angeles was unveiled Monday and features a purple-and-gold design in tribute to Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.
This court is located at Atlantic Avenue Park and was redesigned through a collaborative effort between BodyArmor sports drink and The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
The court’s design includes the phrase “Play Gigi’s Way” along the sideline, a “Kobe & Gianna Bryant” logo surrounded by butterflies at mid-court, and the numbers 24 and 2 located inside each free-throw circle to pay tribute to their jersey numbers.
Natalia Bryant, Kobe’s daughter, attended the unveiling and expressed her support for the project.
“I’m happy that by opening these courts we get to give those opportunities to make those kinds of memories to get outside,” she said, according to NBC 4 Los Angeles.
“My sister would want everyone to play her way, play Gigi’s way. A level of competitiveness and also sportsmanship, as well. And, same with my dad, the Mamba mentality. I know that he just wants as many kids to be playing on this court, practicing everyday.”
The Atlantic Avenue Park court is the 21st community basketball court sponsored by The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation and the third in Los Angeles.
Natalia ran drills during the unveiling and said that contributing to the community through basketball was something her father had always wanted. She added that some of her best memories came on the courts when she was younger.
“I have the best memories with my friends when I was a kid and just playing outside, being a kid, having fun, and I’m happy that by opening these courts we get to give those opportunities to make those kind of memories and get outside,” she explained, per Audacy.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife and chair of The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, has been instrumental in efforts to honor her late husband and daughter through community initiatives.
The foundation aims to create opportunities for underserved young athletes while continuing to honor Kobe and Gianna’s legacies.